[rsouxlja7]

I work at a small firm (15ish CPAs) and we don’t get a bonus for obtaining our CPA license. I’m not sure how much of a salary bump it will give either but I am getting the feeling it’s not much although no one has outright said it. Is this normal? Does the increase in pay not come until you leave public?

FAR - 94
AUD - 90
BEC - 86
REG - 87

[FIFOisbetterthanLIFO]

Can't answer you as far as public, but when I passed my CPA exams my boss gave me 2k. Then when I was up for review at the end of the year I got an 11k raise. I know it wasn't all because of the CPA, but it's pretty easy for my boss to walk in to HR and say more or less that I need to pay my sr. accountant more now that he has more leverage. 🙂 Just my experience in the matter.

FAR - Passed (82)
BEC - Passed (76)
AUD - Passed (89)
REG - Passed! (81)
AICPA Ethics

Licensed CPA

[Anonymous]

i passed my exam. I am getting 25-30% salary increase in industry. my original salary was not very high so the percentage seems large.

[fuzyfro89]

What you “deserve” is your market value. What you'll actually get is up to the firm.

If you think you deserve more than what a firm is willing to pay, then you should leave (assuming it's enough of a difference to make you unhappy).

This has been discussed a lot on the forum, but the short story is that there is NOT a direct pay raise for getting your CPA. Many public firms will give bonuses to incentivize staff to pass the exams, but raises for passing are less common.

Big firms are very direct about this, since it's firm-wide. Small firms are inconsistent. Some pay great, and others don't.

[Anonymous]

If you're working in a public I would not count on any pay increase for passing the CPA exam. Salary increases and bonuses are all based on job performance, passing the exam has no effect on this. Larger firms typically offer a meager bonus to incentivize you to pass, but obtaining your CPA license is typically viewed as a requirement to advance, not a designation that you will get rewarded with within your current public accounting firm.

The true value of a CPA license is the doors it opens within private / industry. You will be more marketable with the designation than those who do not hold one.

[hannahniels]

I am getting ready to change jobs so here is how it's done at each my old and my new firm. My old firm is VERY small (just two partners and two associates). They were explicit in telling me that my salary would increase “significantly” when I passed. My new firm has about 160 employees. They offer a bonus (about $2k I believe) after you pass but your salary only changes at your yearly review and if/when you get promotions.

FAR - 75
REG - took 8/4/2015
BEC - currently studying

[FIFOisbetterthanLIFO]

As many have said before, even if you don't get a reward immediately after passing, it will pay dividends in the months and years to come. My peers and and even superiors treat me with more respect because its a highly revered certificate and implies you know more about accounting than someone without it (even though we know that's not necessarily true).

FAR - Passed (82)
BEC - Passed (76)
AUD - Passed (89)
REG - Passed! (81)
AICPA Ethics

Licensed CPA

[JohnWayneIsGod]

Congrats on earning your CPA. Here is a gift-card for a free coffee at Starbucks. But if you work 100 hours a week for the next year and get a good annual review, we'll consider bumping up your pay.

Ha! Just kidding! In one of my cynical moods this morning.

FAR - 80

Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.

-John Wayne

[Mamabear]

Here is a thread with raises/bonuses after passing. It shows you just how inconsistent companies are about it.

https://www.another71.com/cpa-exam-forum/topic/passing-your-cpa-exam-bonus/page/2

CPA Exam - Finally DONE (November 2014)
BEC (08/10/13) 80
AUD (08/24/13) 65 (11/13/13) 85
FAR (04/12/14) 81
REG (07/19/14) 69 (11/29/14) 87!!

[Anonymous]

If your job doesn't require a CPA license, you are not likely to get a raise unless your duties are going to change. You could potentially negotiate enough of an increase to cover whatever costs they'd end up incurring to replace you if you left, depending on the budget room the company has, how badly they want to keep you, and your negotiating skills.

The raise comes with your next move, and if you're smart, your next move will be to a position that requires, not prefers, a CPA license. If they don't require it, chances are, they don't want to pay for a CPA and will end up settling for a lesser candidate if you push for more than their initial offer.

[Anonymous]

Got a job with a mid size public accounting firm. Bonus for passing is 1k salary doesn't change.

[iloveaccounting220]

I had a convo with my boss who stated he didn't want me to leave if/after I obtain my license. I told him I wasn't happy with the work I am doing now and would like more responsibilities. He said they would definitely try to find something else for me to do to be happier and he mentioned bumping my pay (very briefly and no mention of any figures). I don't think there is a policy in place at this company for bonuses for CPA's. It is a private company with revenues of almost $3B. There aren't too many CPA's here but I know they want that to change since they have been trying to go public. Usually private doesn't offer bonuses, I would just have a convo with your boss and see what they say. I know i am not going to get anything extraordinary if I don't have more responsibilities after getting the license, but then I may get a little something just because they don't want me to leave.

BEC - 76 (1/24/15)
REG - 82 (4/13/15)
AUD - 89 (5/31/15)
FAR - 78 (8/16/15)

Starting right now I'll be strong
I'll play my fight song
And I don't really care if nobody else believes
'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me

[tamlange]

From my experience, the benefit of a CPA comes from not plateauing in your career like you would without it. Both public firms and private corporations require a CPA to move much beyond senior accountant. Very few notable firms (Fortune 500 and even mid-level) would look at an accountant without a CPA. The designation makes you credible and proves that you are committed to the field. You wouldn't go to a doctor who doesn't have a medical license, would you? In the corporate world, it seems you also need an MBA or a masters degree to progress. I'm in Seattle and the competition in the job market is fierce. Without a CPA, you don't have much to separate you from your competition and there aren't many hiring managers who give a second look at an “accountant” whose only value is the same bachelor's degree that every other applicant has.

REG (72), 77 July '14
FAR (74), 79 Jan '15
BEC (74), 85 August '15
AUD 80 July '15

Material: Roger full review, Wiley test bank all four topics
Ninja MCQ: AUD and BEC retake

[Author]

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